Protecting your Will
We understand that in some situations the will may be contested and work to ensure assets are distributed to their rightful owners.
Securing you assets
We understand the importance of giving clear and practical advice to ensure everyone involved is secure
Leaving your loved ones
We offer highly reliable and accurate will writing draft services in order for your final wishes to be secured to the best of your knowledge.
Discussing legacies
Setting up your family for a secure life once you're gone can be done at ease with us.
Obtaining a Copy of the Will
Obtaining a Copy of the Will
When a person makes a will, while they are living only they can give a copy of the will to another party, such as a family member.
When a person dies and a will exists, the Executor of a will has no legal duty to send a copy of the will to the beneficiaries of an estate – although once probate is granted, a will becomes a matter of public record and is published.
There are several reasons why it may be necessary to obtain a copy of a will – including to find out who the beneficiaries are, or to contest a will.
There may be fears that the new will was made as a result of coercion – or is even fraudulent, for example.
Other reasons for obtaining a copy of the will might be as a result of inheritance tax and where tax relief is being claimed – or simply to find out how much money a relative left.
When probate is needed, beneficiaries will be sent a copy of the will with a copy of the Grant of Probate issued by the Probate Registry – including the name of those who applied for probate i.e. the Executors or personal representative of the estate.
If an Executor has refused to issue a copy of the will and beneficiaries fear the Executor/s are not acting properly in administering the will – or beneficiaries wish to contest a new will – it is advisable to seek expert legal advice from Duncan Lewis Probate solicitors as soon as possible.
Duncan Lewis Probate Solicitors – Obtaining a Copy of a Will
Once a will has been published, it is possible to apply to the local Probate Registry via an application form to obtain a copy of the will.
However, if there is a valid reason for obtaining a copy of the will before probate and the Executor will not release this, seeking legal advice on your position is essential.
Duncan Lewis has offices nationwide – and our Probate solicitors offer competitively-priced fixed fees for probate matters, with hourly rates for contentious probate cases.
For expert legal advice on wills and probate and obtaining a copy of a will, call Duncan Lewis Wills and Probate solicitors in confidence on 0333 772 0409.